Testing device



J. O. LEWIS ET AL TESTING DEVICE Filed March 28, 1927 o l 7x. @www thesame property;

, sage therethrough Patented Aug; M, 192%.

JAMES O. LEWIS AND HOMER R. PIERCE,

0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

TESTING DEVICE.

Application led March 28, 1927. Serial No. 178,974.

Our invention relates to testing devices and particularly to devices ofthis character which are designed to test the combustl` bility ofexplosive gases.

One of the prime objects of the invention is the provision of a deviceembodylnga construction which is particularly useful 1n oil and gasfields for testing the gas emanating from a well which is sometimesemployed as fuel for an internal combustion engine for driving acompressor located at the property, the compressor being employed toprovide air pressure to supplement the natural pressure of the well andthus force oi-l from adjoining connected wells. The compressed air fedto the wells lnits pasbecomes mixed with gases and gasoline and gasolinevapors contained in the well and is transmitted to the compressor andpassed back into the well. The resultant mixture varies at differentlocations and also varies from time to time on thus itis evident thatthe air supplied by the compressor and orced into the air Well mightbecome combined with the gases emanating from the oils therein andconnected wells and might result in a mixture -of high combustbilitywhich would thus increase the explosive azard. y

The device forming the basis of this application is designed to providea means whereby the mixture of air and gas which results by forcing airinto the oil well by the compressor, may be tested as to itscombustibility and have either air or gas added thereto so that themixture which is returned he well by the compressor may have or gascorresponding in quantity lto that shown by the test and thus produce amixture in the line and well The device may be any gas fuel used foractuatmg engines or for burning to determine whether the mixture fedthereto is either .too rich or lean or proper combustion.

he device may also be employed to test spark plugs or ignition systemsfor any predetermined condition of pressure, temperature and mixture.

The invention has as an object the provision of a construction whereby apart of the gas employed for actuating the engine or that resultingfromthe mixture of air and a part hereof.

also employed to testA of the gas or its mixture.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a means foragitating the mixcombustion chamber ture contained in the to mix thefluid contents of the combustion chamber. Y

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will beexplained in detail and more readily understood when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of whichthe invention is susceptible, it being obvious, however, that changesand modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the appended claims forming In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a construction rwhereby the abovementioned objects may be accomplished.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in thedirection of the arrows, the coil box and switch being in elevation, and

Fig.v 3 is a section ta Fig. 2. Y

In the embodiment of the trated in the d ployed en on theilin'e 3 3 ofinvention illusa coil box l 1s emrelation to the coil box. Rod ed in thebrackets so that said ciated devices lll@ Y position by means of thethumb screws 5. The upper ends of the rods 4 are each formed to providebearings 6 and 7 in which nipples 8 and 9 are rotatably mounted, thelatter having one end thereof threaded into an opening provided in thecombustion chamber 10 which is located between the bearings 6 and 7.

AThe combustion, chamber 10 has a spark plug 11 connected thereto, theterminal thereof being connected by means of a conductor 12 to aterminal 13 of a switch 14, which is connected in circuit with the coilsprovided in the coil box. 1t is manifest that upon operation of theswitch 14, any combustible charge contained in the combustion chamber 10will be ignited through the sure gauge 23 -tween the combustion chamber10 and the means just referred to if all conditions are suitable.

The trunnion 8 has pipe fittings 15 secured to it to provide separateair and gas branches 16 and 17, which are respectively controlled byvalves 18 and 19, said valves being provided to control the passage ofgas and air to the interior of the combustion chamber 10.

The trunnion 9 is also provided with pipe fittings, one of which, suchas 20, is connected with a registering gauge 2l 'and the other, such as22, being connected to a pres- A valve 24 is arranged bepressure gauge23. The pressure gauge 23 is employed to measure the pressure of thefluid content in the combustion chamber 10 and the registering gauge 21is employed to measure the explosive force of the fluid contents of thecombustion chamber 10 when the fluid is ignited through the medium ofthe spark plug 11 and connections therewith, the valve 24 being shutduring the explosion in order to protect the measuring gauge 23 which isof more sensitive and less rugged construction than the gauge 21.

The combustion chamber 10 is supplied with a means for agitating themixture contained in the combustion chamber 10 so as to thoroughly mixthe contents of the chamber. The means herein shown for accomplishingthis last-mentioned function includes a ball 25 which is freely movablewithin the interior of the combust-ion chamber, it being actua uponoscillation or rotation of the combustion chamber in the bearings 6 and7 in which it is mounted.

The recording gauge 21 preferably comprises a rotatable arm 26 carryinga wick or pencil 27 adapted for recording on a disk 28 and slidable onthe arm so that it may be reset after recording each of the explosionsof a test and provide a graph of the pressures of the series ofexplosions. A number of disks 28 may be removably mounted in the gaugehousing, one upon the other so that the outer one may record'impressions as to determine whether ornot the fluid contents of thechamber 1s of an explosive or non-explosive character, that theconnection 17 of the pipe fittings 15 is connected to a source of gassupply, such as, for instance, a pipe or line leading from a compressoremployed to force air into a well to cause oil in` an adjacent well .toflow therefrom.

1t is thus evident that whenthe valve 19 controlling the connection 17is 'opened an the valve 18 controlling the air connection 16 is closed,gas will be permitted to flow into the combustion chamber through thenipple 8, and from the combustion chamber through the nipple 9 to thepressure gauge 28, upon which a reading of the pressure may be had. Whena test is to be made, the valves 18, 19 and 24 are closed and the switch14 operated,

it being understood which will cause a spark to occur within thecombustion chamber 10, and if the gas or mixture is of a character whichwill support combustion it will naturally be ignited and the explosiveforce thereof will be denoted upon the recording gauge 2l. 1f thegaseous content of the chamber is such that it and it is desired todetermine the quantity of air or gas necessary to be mixed with the gasso as to provide a mixture which is too rich or too lean to supportcombustion, then air under pressure or gas is fed separately inquantities, which can be determined by the indication of the pressuregauge, .through the pipe connection 16 to the combustion chamber whereit is mixed and the precedingly described operation will be resorted tountil a mixture results which is non-combustible, the explosive force ofeach mixture being recorded on the recording gauge which, together withthe chart of mixtures employed may provide a record of the In thismanner the quantity of air or gas necessary to be addedto the mixturefed to a well which is non-combustible can be ascertained.

1f it is desired to employ the device to determine the combustibility atthe operating pressure of to be employed for actuating the enginewhereby the compressor is operated, the above again be portion of gasand air described operation will which is necessary to be added to thatin the line or well to supthe pressures recorded on the gauge 21 for thetests From the manifest that a structure is of various mixtures.

disclosed where-- foregoing description, it is ignites y employed andthus the exact proi by the combustibility or non-combustibility to andfrom the of a gas may be determined and whereby upon Which the c saidgas may be rendered combustible or naled.

upon the circumstances or desires.

It is further manifest that after determincontrolling said flu ing bythe test the quantity of air or gas with said outlet, a necessary to beadded to prevent combustion, Huid outlet, said gas or air in siinilai'proportions may be inand from the ch troduced to the Well and line andthus preupon Which the coinbustio vent conllagration and explosion.naled.

What We claim and desire to secure by 7. In a tes Letters Patent is:scribed, a

1. In a testing device of the character dethe b scribed, the combinationof a combustion for connectg chamber, air and gas inlets leading to saidcoil Within chamber, gauges communicating with said supply of e-lemen.'chamber, means arranged within said chamchamber her for mixing the fluidintroduced to Said miinication with the In a testing scribed, a coil bQ. In a testing device of the character demounted on the b scribed, thecombination of a combustion tion device, a s chamber, air and gas inletsleadingto said connection betw chamber, gauges communicating with saidcoils Within the combustion chamber, means for controlling livery ofelements the actuation of one of said gauges, and aratelyto theexplosion ch means for causing combustion in said comin communicationWith sa g device of the cha plosion chamber, ow of elements of a fchamber, and means for causing combustion 8. in said chamber.

bustion chamber.

v 3. In a testing device of the character scribed, an ex described, thecombination of a movably trolling il mounted combustion chamber, meansarto said ch ranged Within said chamber for mixing fluid mixture in saidchambe introduced to said chamber, said means bega-uge in communie ingoperable upon movement of said chamthe recording er, a fluid inletleading to said combustion able under chamber, and a gauge incommunication plosion cha with said combustion chamber.

4. In a testing device of the character 10. In a testin described, thecombination of a movably described, a mounted combustion chamber, meansartrolling sep ranged Within said chamber for mixing mixture to thechamb fluid introduced to said chamber, said means connected With thecha being operable upon movement of said chamgauge connected with theer, a Huid inlet leading to said combustion means for sl chamber, gaugesin communication with said from the c h combustion chamber, and meansfor controlrecording ling the passage of pressure to one of said underim gauges. l sion chamber and a m 5. In a testing device of thecharacter deable on said arm. scribed, the combination of a rotatablecom- VIn testimon bustion chamber. a fluid inlet and outlet tures.

leading to and from said cliambei', valves controlling said fluid inlet,gauges connected with said outlet, said fluid inlet and outlet Witchcontr een the igni X, means co ation with t n explosion cha iutting olfflow o amber to the press gauge comprising a pulses eman JAMES O. LEWIS.HOMER R. PIERCE.

chamber providing means ombustion chamber is ]our gauges connected velocated in said let and outlet to providing means n chamber isjourdevice of the character deplosion chamber prising an igniollingelectrical tion device and ntrolling defuel mixture racter demeans connuel mixture or igniting the fuel d a recording he chamber,

of the character mber, means conof elements of a fuel pressure gauge anda recording fluid medium ure gauge, the n arm rotatable from theeXploarking member adjustloo I y whereof Weaiix our signaf

